Cultural Strategy Survey 2011

Ipswich Cultural Strategy Survey 2011

The future of culture, sport and parks in Ipswich

Ipswich Borough Council recognises that culture, sport and parks activities, interests and places generate vitality and increase the quality of life for both individuals and communities.

The next few years present new challenges and opportunities. Progress will be in the context of the pubic sector's need to become more efficient and embrace the opportunities presented by the new Government's ‘Big Society’ ideals.

This strategy sets out how Ipswich Borough Council will focus on six key objectives to further improve use and participation of our cultural assets while facilitating the development of others. It is intended that the outcomes supported through this strategy will ensure that Ipswich continues to be somewhere that people can be proud to live, work, socialise and visit.

We hope that you will be prepared to spare a few moments to provide feedback and comments on the draft Cultural Strategy, which includes nine key questions and should take no longer than 10 minutes to complete. Your views are important and will go a long way in helping shape cultural services in Ipswich over the coming years.

Do you agree that culture should continue to be a priority for Ipswich, boosting the economy, increasing tourism and improving the quality of life for all?

Strongly agree

Agree

Neither agree not disagree

Disagree

Strongly disagree

Don't know

Objective 1: Responding to national pressure on public spend

We will focus activity on key local assets and aim to reduce duplication and improve efficiency through better co-ordination and management of linked services. We will make better use of partnerships and voluntary provision, maximise income and seek external funding where available.

Q2	Do you agree that the actions listed below will help respond to national pressure on public spend?
Q2		Strongly agree	Agree	Neither agree not disagree	Disagree	Strongly disagree	Don't know
	Work with local stakeholders to identify options for more streamlined administration and create a cultural network in Ipswich to discuss these issues.
	Make our flagship parks: Christchurch, Holywells and Chantry, hubs for the efficient support of the rest of our open spaces.
	Focus on developing Ipswich Museum and Christchurch Mansion and review opportunities for the Town Hall complex.
	Consolidate grant support on the Arts Council supported centres of excellence: The New Wolsey Theatre, Dance East Jerwood DanceHouse and Eastern Angles Sir John Mills Theatre.
	Develop alternative arrangements for delivering community activity at Whitton and Maidenhall Sports Centres.
	Maximise sponsorship opportunities for cultural services including fully funding the annual Ip-art festival.
	Provide a better managed and cost-effective programme of live entertainment at the Corn Exchange and Regent Theatre while providing a varied programme and continuing to reduce the cost to local taxpayers.

Objective 2: Developing the cultural economy

We will promote the town’s cultural offer to attract more visitors (especially those who stay more than one day) and help boost the local economy.

Q3	Do you agree that the actions below will help to develop the cultural economy?
Q3		Strongly agree	Agree	Neither agree not disagree	Disagree	Strongly disagree	Don't know
	Raise the profile of Ipswich as a centre of national significance for museums and art galleries, high profile performances and artists, high quality public art programmes and commissions, learning opportunities, parks and open spaces, excellent sporting facilities and events.
	Support the continued regeneration of the town with a strong arts sector and cultural economy.
	Facilitate the success of key sporting facilities and events of regional and national significance including: Ipswich Town Football Club, Northgate Sports Centre athletics track, Whitton Sports Centre cycling track, Pipers Vale Gymnastics Centre, Ipswich Half Marathon and Regional Cyclo-Cross Championships.
	Promote Ipswich as a ‘cultural experience’ where there are new, creative and imaginative events and festivals through an established Ipswich Festival season.

Objective 3 - Improving and sustaining what we have

We will seek to improve our facilities where we can and ensure they are well maintained and run by qualified staff who look after customers.

Q4	Do you agree that the actions listed below will help improve and sustain what we have?
Q4		Strongly agree	Agree	Neither agree nor disagree	Disagree	Strongly disagree	Don't know
	Retain Green Flag Accreditation for Christchurch Park and achieve Green Flag status for Holywells Park in 2011 and Chantry Park in 2013.
	Ensure accessibility for all and review park byelaws.
	Establish Christchurch Mansion as the regional centre to view the works and understand the life of John Constable.
	Complete refurbishment of Crown Pools.
	Investigate meeting demand for health and fitness facilities.
	Trained staff and apprenticeships.

Objective 4 - Increasing participation in cultural activity

We will encourage communities to become involved in the management and maintenance of their local facilities

Q5	Do you agree that the actions listed below will help increase participation in cultural activity?
Q5		Strongly Agree	Agree	Neither agree nor disagree	Disagree	Strongly disagree	Don't know
	Attract and retain more volunteers, reduce the burdens faced by volunteers and ensure professional support enhances voluntary systems.
	Encourage support for community sporting assets, eg. self-management of Holywells Bowls Club green.
	Explore management options for allotment gardens.
	Encourage input and assistance from individuals, the voluntary sector, community pay-back, private sector and other groups in our work.
	Review Park management Boards.
	Support sports teams and clubs to achieve Charter standard, improve coaching and access funding to support club development targets.
	Support initiatives from grassroots, community celebrations, sporting events and exhibitions, which bring life to the town’s streets, diverse venues and communities.
	Continued development of Ipswich Film Theatre Trust.

Objective 5 - 2012 Olympic Legacy

The Council will work with partners, including the County Council, Nations and Regions
East, private providers and the third sector to provide opportunities and a lasting legacy linked to 2012.

Q6	Do you agree that the actions listed below will help create a 2012 Olympic Legacy?
Q6		Strongly Agree	Agree	Neither agree nor disagree	Disagree	Strongly disagree	Don't know
	Increase the number of Volunteers recruited to cultural activity by 1% year-on-year, through the Games Time Volunteering Programme and Museums recruitment programme.
	Produce a handbook, which can be used by local organisations giving advice on how to run and organise local community events.
	Ensure that Ipswich is on the London 2012 torch relay route.
	Increase participation in physical activity, particularly in the areas of walking and cycling.
	Increase the number of people attending festivals and events in Ipswich through a Cultural Olympiad activity programme.
	Work with Azerbaijan - who are committed to using Ipswich as its Pre-Games Training Camp - to develop sport, culture and education links.

Objective 6 - Ambitions for the future

There is clear evidence of an appetite for culture-related tourism in Ipswich. For example more than 1m visitors have attended the Ip-art festival since 2003, bringing an estimated £13m into the local economy (Arts Council England Economic Impact Study, 2004).

At the same time, Ipswich Borough Council recognises the benefit that investment in culture can bring to the disadvantaged, as whilst being part of the Haven Gateway Partnership growth area, Ipswich has some of the most deprived wards in the region.

Ipswich Borough Council is utilising this growth status through culture to address these place-specific economic issues and when resources, local circumstances and opportunities allow, Ipswich Borough Council will look to progress on a number of key ambitions.

Q7	Please indicate what level priority you think should be attached to the following ambitions?
Q7		Strongly Agree	Agree	Neither agree nor disagree	Disagree	Strongly disagree	Don't know
	Work with other stakeholders to map out a shared vision of how culture can be taken to the next level in Ipswich and position the town as a future UK centre for culture.
	Explore the possibility of new visitor centre at Orwell Country Park.
	Secure support and lottery funding for a £10m investment in a new cultural quarter combining the Ipswich Museum, Ipswich Art School, former High Street Exhibition Gallery and the St George's Street Wolsey Studio. This new world class museum and arts centre will become a tourist attraction of national significance, provide incubator space for small and medium sized cultural enterprise and be the source of pride and inspiration for the local community.
	Establish a new sports village focused on Gainsborough Sports Centre with more sporting facilities including improved football/all weather pitches, cycling facilities etc.
	Provide capital support to assist a partner(s) to lead and operate a restored Broomhill lido.
	Secure a major mass participation event for Ipswich.
	Improve the Regent Theatre offer by exploring opportunities to increase parking provision for the venue and investigate funding opportunities to enable three significant refurbishment projects to be undertaken for: heating/air conditioning, foyer and crush hall ceilings and toilet renovation.
	Seek proposals for the redevelopment of the Corn Exchange in conjunction with investment partners and develop its under utilised areas.

Overview

Thank you for your time in completing this questionnaire. Your comments will be taken into consideration in the final draft. Would you please give your overall view of the draft Cultural Strategy and whether in your opinion it focuses on the right cultural activity in Ipswich.

Do you agree that the Draft Cultural Strategy focuses on the right priorities for Ipswich?